Comments on: A full year of the Grateful Dead tuning up http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 06:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: mahlsdorferami http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1611668 mahlsdorferami Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1611668 And about a year later, strobe tuners were invented. Thank god. And about a year later, strobe tuners were invented. Thank god.

]]> By: welcomeabored http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610672 welcomeabored Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610672 Not just for the band but the audience as well.  It takes a while to troll the parking lots for a dealer, make a purchase, and wait for the mushrooms to kick in.  The music of The Grateful Dead was a magic carpet ride for thousands every night. Not just for the band but the audience as well.  It takes a while to troll the parking lots for a dealer, make a purchase, and wait for the mushrooms to kick in.  The music of The Grateful Dead was a magic carpet ride for thousands every night.

]]> By: Thorzdad http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610664 Thorzdad Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610664  Phish  Phish

]]> By: damiro http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610608 damiro Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610608 It's curiously compelling because it's live and unscripted. Vanishingly rare, these days. You can hear the crowd anticipating something...they're not sure what, except that it will be unique. Not that some of it wasn't crap, mind you. Although in '77 not much of it was. It’s curiously compelling because it’s live and unscripted. Vanishingly rare, these days. You can hear the crowd anticipating something…they’re not sure what, except that it will be unique. Not that some of it wasn’t crap, mind you. Although in ’77 not much of it was.

]]> By: damiro http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610604 damiro Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610604  I was playing in an open garage one day with a couple friends of mine in San Francisco. It was sometime around 2000, 2001...We were tuning for a few minutes and a trio of cute girls who were walking by stopped and listened until we were done. One of them said "Wow, you guys sound great!" Our bass player said "Oh, we were just tuning" despite the throat-cutting gestures and shushing sounds me and the the other guitar player were making. Needless to say the girls raised their eyebrows and walked away. Sigh.  I was playing in an open garage one day with a couple friends of mine in San Francisco. It was sometime around 2000, 2001…We were tuning for a few minutes and a trio of cute girls who were walking by stopped and listened until we were done. One of them said “Wow, you guys sound great!” Our bass player said “Oh, we were just tuning” despite the throat-cutting gestures and shushing sounds me and the the other guitar player were making. Needless to say the girls raised their eyebrows and walked away. Sigh.

]]> By: tré http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610559 tré Tue, 18 Dec 2012 05:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610559 I was actually really looking forward to it. There's got to be that much recording of them tuning up out there. Maybe it's time I did something productive with my time instead of this pointless job/college combo I've been trying. I was actually really looking forward to it. There’s got to be that much recording of them tuning up out there. Maybe it’s time I did something productive with my time instead of this pointless job/college combo I’ve been trying.

]]> By: MrJM http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610524 MrJM Tue, 18 Dec 2012 04:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610524 If this is "tuning" then what have I been calling "jamming"?!? If this is “tuning” then what have I been calling “jamming”?!?

]]> By: BillStewart2012 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610522 BillStewart2012 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 04:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610522  Hey, stranger things have happened. Maybe something in the middle of Space reminded Jerry of a lick they'd done earlier in the middle of Truckin'.  Hey, stranger things have happened. Maybe something in the middle of Space reminded Jerry of a lick they’d done earlier in the middle of Truckin’.

]]> By: BillStewart2012 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610516 BillStewart2012 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 04:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610516 Wasn't this great?  I didn't see them in person until after Keith was gone, but they sure did a lot of nice stuff in this collection. The Dead may have played 200-250 different tunes in a typical year, but I assume that's not counting all the random stuff during tuning or waiting for a roadie to adjust something or whatever. (Some of this counts as tunes, some is just random noodling or clicking on mikes. Couple of nice Terrapin bits so far, and guitar/piano interactions.) Wasn’t this great?  I didn’t see them in person until after Keith was gone, but they sure did a lot of nice stuff in this collection.

The Dead may have played 200-250 different tunes in a typical year, but I assume that’s not counting all the random stuff during tuning or waiting for a roadie to adjust something or whatever. (Some of this counts as tunes, some is just random noodling or clicking on mikes. Couple of nice Terrapin bits so far, and guitar/piano interactions.)

]]> By: feetleet http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610429 feetleet Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610429 No, I get the point of guitar solos. My unsober embarassment of choice is dubstep. Remember, if you had minded your elders, you'd be playing bassoon right now...and....you'd be pretty awesome. Point taken.  Or is twee out now? I can't remember life before this bitchin solo. No, I get the point of guitar solos. My unsober embarassment of choice is dubstep. Remember, if you had minded your elders, you’d be playing bassoon right now…and….you’d be pretty awesome. Point taken. 

Or is twee out now? I can’t remember life before this bitchin solo.

]]> By: feetleet http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610422 feetleet Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610422  Sorry, I meant Bathtub Gin.   Sorry, I meant Bathtub Gin. 

]]> By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610413 wrybread Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610413 You are mean, or at least missing the point of guitar solos, but man that video you posted is hilarious. Good idea by them to disable commenting, but I was kind of looking forward to the YouTube comment storm that would inevitably ensue. You are mean, or at least missing the point of guitar solos, but man that video you posted is hilarious. Good idea by them to disable commenting, but I was kind of looking forward to the YouTube comment storm that would inevitably ensue.

]]> By: feetleet http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610403 feetleet Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610403 Dollars to donuts even the creator hasn't listened to all 92 minutes contiguous. If I set out to watch every 90's soap opera episode ever aired, and watched with my eyelids taped open 24/7 from tomorrow until the day I died, I still probably wouldn't succeed. "Here's the commercials," he says. Dollars to donuts even the creator hasn’t listened to all 92 minutes contiguous. If I set out to watch every 90′s soap opera episode ever aired, and watched with my eyelids taped open 24/7 from tomorrow until the day I died, I still probably wouldn’t succeed. “Here’s the commercials,” he says.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610349 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610349 <i>The power of Jerry Garcia compels you!</i> The power of Jerry Garcia compels you!

]]> By: Slartibartfatsdomino http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610345 Slartibartfatsdomino Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610345 This reminds me of the late (just recently departed) Ravi Shankar's set at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971. Before the rock acts, George Harrison scheduled Ravi and his Indian classical colleagues to perform before a crowd of enthusiastic hippies. So enthusiastic that after a few moments of Ravi and co. tuning the sitar and the sarod, the crowd breaks out into rapturous applause. A slightly bemused Ravi Shankar leans into the microphone and says: "Thank you very much. We hope if you enjoyed the tuning so much, you will enjoy the music even more!"  This reminds me of the late (just recently departed) Ravi Shankar’s set at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971. Before the rock acts, George Harrison scheduled Ravi and his Indian classical colleagues to perform before a crowd of enthusiastic hippies. So enthusiastic that after a few moments of Ravi and co. tuning the sitar and the sarod, the crowd breaks out into rapturous applause. A slightly bemused Ravi Shankar leans into the microphone and says: “Thank you very much. We hope if you enjoyed the tuning so much, you will enjoy the music even more!” 

]]> By: Bill McGuire http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610326 Bill McGuire Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610326 This is the best that I've ever heard them sound! The first time I saw them was with Dylan in 1986. The guy standing next to me was keeping a set list and he kept asking me what the 3rd song was. I finally got annoyed with him and said it was Truckin', as this was the only Grateful Dead song that I knew at the time. Sometime in the second set they actually played Truckin' and he got very mad at me for lying to him. This is the best that I’ve ever heard them sound!

The first time I saw them was with Dylan in 1986. The guy standing next to me was keeping a set list and he kept asking me what the 3rd song was. I finally got annoyed with him and said it was Truckin’, as this was the only Grateful Dead song that I knew at the time. Sometime in the second set they actually played Truckin’ and he got very mad at me for lying to him.

]]> By: Jeremy Dickens http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610316 Jeremy Dickens Mon, 17 Dec 2012 22:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610316 I started listening, hoping for maybe an interesting found-sound or musique concrete experience, forced by the loss of context - perhaps something even more stimulating.  Instead, I got what was quite obviously the Grateful Dead.  Curiously, I found it not compelling.  At all. I started listening, hoping for maybe an interesting found-sound or musique concrete experience, forced by the loss of context – perhaps something even more stimulating.  Instead, I got what was quite obviously the Grateful Dead.  Curiously, I found it not compelling.  At all.

]]> By: gratefulvideo http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610235 gratefulvideo Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610235 They were striving for 'Just exactly perfect' and got there quite often in 77. They were striving for ‘Just exactly perfect’ and got there quite often in 77.

]]> By: Doug Shawhan http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610205 Doug Shawhan Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610205 Insert "I can't tell the difference between this and the concert" comment. Insert “I can’t tell the difference between this and the concert” comment.

]]> By: feetleet http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610169 feetleet Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610169 I was going to say 'all that wasted time tuning.' Because that's time they could have spent repetitively vamping. But now it's a curio on the Internet! Hard to call that wasted! Alas, if only they had AT-200s during the Civil War, or whenever. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qw1j2CLdwo (at about :26) Maybe I'm mean, but guitar solos are solipsistic. Call it even. I was going to say ‘all that wasted time tuning.’ Because that’s time they could have spent repetitively vamping. But now it’s a curio on the Internet! Hard to call that wasted!

Alas, if only they had AT-200s during the Civil War, or whenever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qw1j2CLdwo
(at about :26)

Maybe I’m mean, but guitar solos are solipsistic. Call it even.

]]> By: soapdish http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610164 soapdish Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610164 "It's curiously compelling." No.  No, it's not. “It’s curiously compelling.”
No.  No, it’s not.

]]> By: John Randolph http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610085 John Randolph Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610085 okay, now that was a cute comment. okay, now that was a cute comment.

]]> By: Mitchell Glaser http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610074 Mitchell Glaser Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610074 That was a really good era for them when Keith and Donna were around, Terrapin Station and all those songs. Plus it was nice having a good looking girl to watch. That was a really good era for them when Keith and Donna were around, Terrapin Station and all those songs. Plus it was nice having a good looking girl to watch.

]]> By: chris jimson http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610054 chris jimson Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610054 Now if only they could get Donna Godchaux to tune up. . . . Now if only they could get Donna Godchaux to tune up. . . .

]]> By: Warren_Terra http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610032 Warren_Terra Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610032 Anyone else see the title and suspect someone had edited together almost 9000 hours of the Dead tuning up? Anyone else see the title and suspect someone had edited together almost 9000 hours of the Dead tuning up?

]]> By: euansmith http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610010 euansmith Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610010 I once watched the Grateful Dead on the Old Grey Whistle Test; it seemed that all they did was tune up. I once watched the Grateful Dead on the Old Grey Whistle Test; it seemed that all they did was tune up.

]]> By: John T. http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1610002 John T. Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1610002 Could John Perry Barlow write some lyrics for it? Taking time off from being an elder NetGuru, of course. Could John Perry Barlow write some lyrics for it? Taking time off from being an elder NetGuru, of course.

]]> By: [A] http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1609999 [A] Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1609999 Why..? Why..?

]]> By: Funk Daddy http://boingboing.net/2012/12/17/a-full-year-of-the-grateful-de.html#comment-1609975 Funk Daddy Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200988#comment-1609975 They probably spent a fair amount of time tuning up. Syncing auditory hallucinations is a bitch. They probably spent a fair amount of time tuning up. Syncing auditory hallucinations is a bitch.

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